World News - U.S. ambassador to Mexico urges Mexicans to respect America's right to protect its borders

U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Tony Garza on Friday asked Mexicans to respect America's right to protect its borders and said there has been widespread misinformation about a proposal to extend to border walls and tighten immigration enforcement.In a five-page, more than 2,000-word newsletter released to coincide with the beginning of the new year, Garza wrote about House Bill 4437, which must still be considered by the U.S. Senate but would build 700 miles of additional fences along the U.S.-Mexico border while making illegal entry a felony and enlisting military and local police to help stop undocumented migrants."Some have said a border fence violates human rights and have even compared it to the Berlin Wall," Garza said. "Comparisons of proposals to alter our border policies to the Berlin Wall are not only disingenuous and intellectually dishonest, they are personally offensive to me.... http://www.dfw.com

The chief judge in the trial of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has tendered his resignation, reports say. A source involved in the tribunal told the BBC he is disappointed by public reaction to his running of the trial. Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin has been accused by Iraqi and US politicians of being too lenient on Saddam Hussein during hearings at his murder trial. The source said his resignation has not yet been accepted and colleagues are trying to persuade him to reconsider. Judge Rizgar is overseeing the trial of Saddam Hussein and seven former members of his regime over the killing of 148 people in Dujail in 1982. The defendants all deny the charges. Some members of the Iraqi government and US politicians have complained that the judge has been too soft on the former president, allowing him to take over the court. ...http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/4613098.stm

The European Union urged Washington on Saturday to speed up efforts to extend its visa waiver scheme to new EU members.A report by the executive Commission cited the United States, Canada and Australia as having made no real progress in signing reciprocal accords with the predominantly ex-communist states under which countries waive the need for visas. "Member states don't want at all to open a dispute with the United States, Canada and Australia and nor do we (the European Commission)," Justice and Security Commissioner Franco Frattini told reporters at a meeting of EU justice ministers....http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1505819

A 45-year-old who has spent more than half his life in prison for armed robbery and rape will be freed after DNA evidence created "significant doubt" about his guilt, prosecutors said Friday. The Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office said it would support a defense motion to vacate Alan Crotzer's 1982 convictions and 130-year prison sentence. "After carefully weighing all available evidence, the State Attorney's Office has concluded that significant doubt exists as to Mr. Crotzer's guilt in this case," the office said in a statement Friday. Crotzer's attorneys with the Florida Innocence Initiative told him of the development in an afternoon conference call, said Sam Roberts, a Fordham University law student who has worked closely with attorneys on the case. Roberts described Crotzer as "overwhelmed, emotional and overjoyed." ...http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1505448&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312

The union representing about 14,000 ground workers at bankrupt Northwest Airlines (Other OTC:NWACQ - news) said on Saturday that it would let members vote on a settlement proposal that could eliminate the need for the airline to void the workers' contract as it seeks labor savings. The International Association of Machinists said it has found some common ground with the No. 4 U.S. airline, which requires $190.4 million in concessions from the workers."Our negotiators were able to convince Northwest to move off of some of their initial proposals," said IAM District 143 President Bobby DePace. "Many of our ideas are contained in the company's settlement proposal."...http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060114/bs_nm/airlines_northwest_dc

Lebanese riot police fired smoke grenades and sprayed water on Saturday to disperse dozens of students protesting against the visit of senior U.S. diplomats to Beirut.The protest turned nasty when security forces tried to clear protesters who gathered outside the government headquarters ahead of a visit by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch. Some of the protesters, waving Lebanese flags and carrying placards protesting against U.S. influence in Lebanon and the Middle East, pelted police with stones. "Welch is not welcome in Lebanon," one placard read. Welch, who met with several Lebanese officials on Saturday, is due to hold talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora at the government headquarters. ...http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1505818